Dislocated Shoulder

[Tankman]

So I came down and I came down hard this morning!

 

We were on high speed already and decided on a sprint ... while giving it plenty of power, hands in the drops, elbows flicked out horizontally ... at the top of the pedalstroke with the right leg while powering down ... suddenly there was no chain!

 

The right elbow and shoulder took most of the impact ... dislocating it! Weird and k@k painful feeling seeing your arm hang below where it normally sits.

 

Although I have roasties on both hips, both elbows and one knee (not sure exactly how ) ... I felt much better once my shoulder was popped back into place.

 

Luckily the popping back was a bit of a blur ... the ketamine ... made me have a conversation with Lance and he said "Just do it ... but I didn't do it!"

 

So anyhow, I did not think it was all that serious ... pop it back in, off you go and be ready for Saturdays race albeit a bit cautious.

 

Went to the shoulder specialist and he explained that ligaments and muscles got torn off and once a shoulder has been dislocated chances are greater that it might dislocate again although with some the muscles and ligaments attach in all the correct places as if it never happened.

 

His concern is that I am very active and it might be wiser to have to ligaments and muscles surgically re-attached to prevent future dislocation.

 

Not so sure if I want to go for an operation but then again ... I dont want to sit with a problem in the future ...

 

Any experience or opinions?

 

(P.S. Sorry I typed so slow, using the left hand only)

Edited October 25, 2012 by Tankman

[alsoran]

Not a doctor so take with a pinch of salt but I have found that ....

 

surgeons almost always suggest surgery even when not always absolutely necessary.

[covie]

lol similar boat, but i tore my thumb ligaments, thing with any ligament is that it will later in life bug the hell out of you if its not fixed, you only have 3 weeks to decide. if its partially torn and you keep your shoulder still for 3-4 weeks then the ligaments should heal fairly well. However if they are completly torn they will never reatach properly and you will have issues later in life.

 

I did this with my shoulder in Judo, even now 14 years later, my shoulder randomly pops out of the joint, hurts like hell for a couple of days and then pops back in again.

 

Proplem with surgery I cant mtb for 6 months if i want it to heal properly.

[MONS]

My personal opinion... try go the sports physio route/ biokineticist first , get a few second and third opinions... i think the extent of the injury would determine successful healing non surgically/ surgically. Dont take too long to decide though... Either way, you are going to be out of action for a time.

Edited October 25, 2012 by Mons100

[Slakkepas]

Dislocated my shoulder 10 years ago in a rugby game. Took my rehab seriously, had a op couple of months later. Did the rehab again. Went well for about 2 years. Got drunk and fell of a jumping castle. ( don’t ask) . And since then it’s a mess. Dislocated it a couple of months ago in my sleep. Believe me that’s not fun. 3am in the morning nothings funny. I couldn`t get it back myself. So of the emergence room. I got back for a little doss before work at least

 

 

If this is your 1st dislocation take it seriously and get the necessary help. And get it fixed. When I reinjured my shoulder I didn`t feel like going through the hassles again and know I have problem. The op I need know is a big op and I will lose some of the movement above my head.

[slayer 83]

Dislocated my shoulder 10 years ago in a rugby game. Took my rehab seriously, had a op couple of months later. Did the rehab again. Went well for about 2 years. Got drunk and fell of a jumping castle. ( don’t ask) . And since then it’s a mess. Dislocated it a couple of months ago in my sleep. Believe me that’s not fun. 3am in the morning nothings funny. I couldn`t get it back myself. So of the emergence room. I got back for a little doss before work at least

 

 

If this is your 1st dislocation take it seriously and get the necessary help. And get it fixed. When I reinjured my shoulder I didn`t feel like going through the hassles again and know I have problem. The op I need know is a big op and I will lose some of the movement above my head.

 

It must have been a hectic dream!?

[Tankman]

Dislocated my shoulder 10 years ago in a rugby game. Took my rehab seriously, had a op couple of months later. Did the rehab again. Went well for about 2 years. Got drunk and fell of a jumping castle. ( don’t ask) . And since then it’s a mess. Dislocated it a couple of months ago in my sleep. Believe me that’s not fun. 3am in the morning nothings funny. I couldn`t get it back myself. So of the emergence room. I got back for a little doss before work at least

 

 

If this is your 1st dislocation take it seriously and get the necessary help. And get it fixed. When I reinjured my shoulder I didn`t feel like going through the hassles again and know I have problem. The op I need know is a big op and I will lose some of the movement above my head.

 

Thanks, ja that does not sound like fun ... except for the getting drunk part and jumping on castles

 

I will lose some of the movement above my head.

 

Just out of curiosity ... what exactly is there above your head?

 

[Red Zone]

My advice, non medical, go see a good physio and get proper rehab and do those silly exercised with stretchy bands and the like. See where that takes you. I have just done 6 months of shoulder rehab after broken shoulder, so it can be long and frustrating, but I am pretty much right now. No-one will cut me unless it is the last resort in the world, once the surgeons start on tricky joints like the shoulder they seem to need to keep going back for more.

[Tankman]

Yea, as I said I didnt think it was a big deal ... pop it back in and off you go.

But this Dr took the lube off my chain a bit.

 

They even wanted to do X-rays before popping it back to "see if anything is broken"

 

I said "Put it back now, nothing is broken, X-ray me later if you want to!"

[Help.Me.]

try everything before an op............i had an op where 2 screws were put in to fix a little bone that was cutting into my muscle. it was the worst op ever, it took a year for my shoulder to heal properly sometimes still giving trouble and the pain was unbearable.

 

Good luck my friend hope you will have a speedy recovery............

[RollandBounce]

I have had a op. Was unlucky to dislocate it again.. long story..

 

Short and sweet - go see a good sports doctor - and give it time to heal a bit, phisio and biokinetist... see what the sports doc says then decide.

 

The best guy in SA for shoulders is Thys de Beer - but he is up in pretoria at the little company of mary hospital.

 

Good luck with the shoulder - can pm me if you have more questions.. been there done that

[bikekid]

Eish - heal up soon dude. I semi dislocated my elbow 2 weeks ago and its only coming right. Shoulder must have been agony

[Brian Fantana]

Dislocated my shoulder 10 years ago in a rugby game. Took my rehab seriously, had a op couple of months later. Did the rehab again. Went well for about 2 years. Got drunk and fell of a jumping castle. ( don’t ask) . And since then it’s a mess. Dislocated it a couple of months ago in my sleep. Believe me that’s not fun. 3am in the morning nothings funny. I couldn`t get it back myself. So of the emergence room. I got back for a little doss before work at least

 

 

If this is your 1st dislocation take it seriously and get the necessary help. And get it fixed. When I reinjured my shoulder I didn`t feel like going through the hassles again and know I have problem. The op I need know is a big op and I will lose some of the movement above my head.

 

This is where a girlfriend/wife comes in "handy".

[covie]

problem is you have 3 weeks to reattach ligaments, otherwise you in groot k@k. If you go to physio's and the sort they will obviously try something none invasive and if it doesnt work your the one stuck with it, they couldnt give a crap since you already paid them.

 

If your not sure then sign up for exploritory surgery to determine if the ligaments and tendons are still attached. If they are they can heal if you rest your shoulder enough, if they not you will have to fix them, do it now its a small and relativly simple op, leave it for 10 years and you will have multiple ops with less chance of success.

[Wannabe]

Hey Dopey (your new Hub name, untill you are fully healed ) give me the name of your mechanic, just so that I know never to ask him to fit a chain to my bike. (b.t.w I think I know who he is )

 

Hectic, boet, just as you were busy putting in the long distances. GOU GESOND WORD!!!!

[covie]

try everything before an op............i had an op where 2 screws were put in to fix a little bone that was cutting into my muscle. it was the worst op ever, it took a year for my shoulder to heal properly sometimes still giving trouble and the pain was unbearable.

 

Good luck my friend hope you will have a speedy recovery............

 

And if you didnt doo it you would still be in pain for the rest of your life,